All six NRL clubs referred to in the Australian Crime Commission investigation into performance-enhancing drugs in professional sport have fessed up, with Manly the last to come forward on Tuesday morning.

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The Sea Eagles joined Cronulla and Newcastle in releasing Tuesday morning statements to confirm they had been told by the NRL that they form part of the ACC investigation.

The other three clubs to come forward are Penrith, North Queensland Cowboys and Canberra, who released statements on Monday night.

The Sharks released a statement on their website confirming they were one of the clubs referred to in the report: "As previously stated the Sharks will continue to provide full support to ASADA and the NRL in their ongoing investigations," the statement said.

"At this point in time the Sharks will not be making any further comment but will endeavour to keep sponsors, members and fans informed of any developments where possible."

The Cowboys sent out a press release late on Monday night saying they would co-operate fully with the investigation but hadn't been made aware of the context of their involvement.

"We have been mentioned in the report but we have no information on the context,” CEO Peter Jourdain said.

"We strongly support this investigation.”

"Like all NRL clubs mentioned in this report, we will co-operate fully with the NRL and ASADA.

"Until we receive a briefing on Tuesday afternoon, we will not be making any further public comment.

The call to Cowboys management from ARL Commission chief executive David Smith came as a surprise to them, as they had previously understood they were not one of the clubs to be named by the ACC.

Almost immediately after fellow NRL clubs Canberra Raiders and Penrith Panthers confirmed they had also been approached.

Penrith general manager Phil Gould released this statement via the club website on Tuesday morning: “Last night ARL Commissioner David Smith called to inform me that the Panthers club have been ‘implicated or referred to’ in the Australian Crime Commission Report.

“At this stage, that is all the information David was permitted to relay to us. No other details are available at this time.

“As we have stated previously, Panthers welcome the opportunity to assist in any inquiry or investigation and we look forward to a speedy resolution to this matter, both for our club and the code of rugby league.

"We will do our best to keep our sponsors, members and fans informed as more details come to hand.”

Canberra CEO Don Furner simply confirmed the Raiders have been contacted by the NRL in regards to being named in the ACC investigation.

Earlier, Australia's sports scandal claimed its first victim, with NSWRL boss Geoff Carr confirming that a player, who has spent the majority of his career in NSW Cup, has been stood-down following an allegation of illicit drug use.

In a media release issued at 7.58pm (EDT) on Monday night, Smith confirmed that the NRL had been allowed by the ACC to contact clubs that had been referred to in the investigation.

"The information that has been passed on to the clubs is simply that they have been referred to within the report," Smith said.

"The NRL is working with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority who will establish a more detailed briefing with the clubs regarding its investigation."

Smith also said that the NRL does not have authority to name the clubs or confirm the number of clubs referred to in the report.

"Regardless of the outcome of any investigation, we are already committed to establishing the strongest integrity and compliance unit of any code. and we are determined to see rugby league stronger for having addressed these issues," he said.

John Fahey, the Australian head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, meanwhile, has called on the Australian government to come clean on the issue.

"We've seen some bones, now give us some meat," he said.

"I do not understand what their strategy was and I do think it needs to be explained by the government, by the ministers," Fahey said.

"I am puzzled why they chose to announce it in the manner they did, knowing it will be some months before the individuals are dealt with after ASADA and the state police forces conclude their work. It may be legitimate but at this point of time we are all guessing what the strategy is."

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